NNEB/teacher, trainer, writer, campaigner for EYs 0-7. Founder of Keeping Early Years Unique. Views my own! Time for change, making a stand for our children.
Apr 27, 2022 • 15 tweets • 4 min read
1. A thread: Making a difference to language and communication- and so much more....
Read on dear reader...
2. So it is fair to say that right now there is a big focus on early language and communication- and rightly so. Communication matters. This is recognised by @Ofstednews with their focus for the next 5 years and @educationgovuk within their EYFS reforms...
Jan 30, 2022 • 13 tweets • 4 min read
Thread: Writing in Reception
1. This weekend I’ve been following a fb discussion about the expectations for writing in YrR. Along with @DrSue22 I have been trying to help answer the questions and confusions around this…
2. Firstly yet again there seems to be confusion around what is statutory and what is not. A very big issue is that what is not statutory and yet being held up as guidance doesn’t marry up to what is statutory…
Jan 20, 2022 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
Thread.
1. As a teacher of over 20yrs- mostly spent in Early years- I have been on the reading carousel- literally in the days of literacy hour. Phonics has always been there- but over recent years there's been a significant shift. And it's not a good one for our children...
2. Before the phonics police arrive to arrest me and charge me with the crime of failing children and wanting them to leave school illiterate and before I am handed the badge of being a phonics denier- let me set the record straight...
May 14, 2021 • 21 tweets • 5 min read
1. A few musings about approaches.
Any pedagogical/educational approach can be embedded effectively to great benefit to all or alternatively completely misunderstood, misconstrued and poorly applied. Examples? Forest school. Montessori. Play based learning. Maths mastery.
2. The key is the understanding, confidence and skill of staff. The level of training and support they receive. The leadership within the setting. The understanding that developing practice is a slow journey. The time to talk, reflect, learn and grow as a team to get it right.
Apr 12, 2021 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
Thread 1.
A little “in the moment” bit of magic from today...
So- one of my focus children was sat making a picture for her mum. She had drawn some flowers and written mummy.
2. I commented on how much mummy would love it and she said she wanted to write daddy, her cats name and sister too. I introduced finger spaces to her, modelled some correct formation and she wrote “To mummy and Daddy and “cats name” and “sister’s name” love from “Sarah”
Feb 5, 2021 • 12 tweets • 8 min read
Some feedback for those behind these maths resources @MarsicoIns@DHClements@JulieSarama@eriksonmath@DREMEmath@EChildhoodMaths from my @NCETM@LSE_MathsHub today.
After having time to explore, a newly qualified teacher said they were like magic keys! Thank you for all you do!
Right now in England, our EYs framework is changing. Its a moment to embrace the opportunity to shape your own maths curriculum. You can of course use DFE Development matters...
Jan 23, 2021 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
THREAD
1. Dear Primary, Secondary, Further ed and Higher ed colleagues,
Many of you may have experienced working with our youngest children- but as the "foundation stage" the work that happens in these early years will be of great importance to you....
2. Right now whichever phase we work in- whether it is a baby room or a university- it is fair to say that we are all working flat out to do the very best for those we work with. But in this thread I wanted to share with you some of the mess that our sector finds itself in...
Sep 3, 2020 • 16 tweets • 4 min read
Thread alert
Development matters- or does it?
1. This a really important read including views from @EYAlliance and @earlyed_uk who share their disappointment and concerns, along with @NickGibbUK who sees this as a way of improving standards.
2. No offence Mr Gibb- but as an EYs teacher of 20+ years I’m standing with organisations who understand young children, respect me as a practitioner at the coal face, listen to my views, consult me and represent me.
Aug 24, 2020 • 23 tweets • 6 min read
1. Right- I’m probably going to get trolled for not wanting the best for children, wanting them to fail and so on.... but I can’t stay quiet and I’m hoping someone out there will share my concerns about today’s announcement from the DFE around the investment in YrR catch up...
2. So this happened today. A £9m investment into a YrR catch up programme. Many on twitter seem to be welcoming this.
1. Fast becoming evident that in the eyes the government- the PVI sector is to the school system what care homes are to the NHS in this crisis.
Note- I say this as a teacher and daughter of NHS nurse- I’m NOT criticising schools and nhs...
My thoughts- feel free to add....
2. Funding in schools is bad. But funding/pay for the PVI sector- even before this? Absolutely disgraceful...
And during this pandemic? Funding u-turns, staff furloughed, settings supporting children and families on the brink of closure- it’s already started.
Apr 8, 2020 • 14 tweets • 2 min read
1. Lots of talk of children being “behind” when schools reopen due to school closures. Here’s my thoughts...
2. There’s no exams or tests this year. So what exactly are they behind in?
Feb 24, 2020 • 18 tweets • 3 min read
In our school we use the “In the moment planning” approach through EYs. Our interactions are everything!
Today this young mathematician was one of my focus children.
He came in to school this morning and started filling the numicon board with pegs.....
... but then it was time for register and phonics. I SUGGESTED we make a do not touch sign and MODELLED how to do this....we put the sign on his work....
